KANSAI’S MOST MAGICAL SAKAGURA

Fukuju Brewery Nada District, Kobe, Hyogo prefecture

Among the oldest of Nada’s famed breweries is Fukuju, a brand that’s growing in stature and reputation across the globe. Visitors can tour the brewery, learning about the art of sake making and witnessing ancient traditional brewing practices done on an industrial scale. After the tour, make sure to spend an hour or so sampling the sake, before buying a bottle or three to take home. Make sure to book in advance, as tours sell out quickly.

enjoyfukuju.com/en

Takeno Brewery Kyotango, Kyoto prefecture

Housing a brewery for 130 years, the traditional Takeno facility blends seamlessly into the surroundings rice fields and Meiji-period houses. Attached to the brewery, however, is a modern addition: Bar 362+3, a single room with a sleek bar where Yukimachi Yoshiki pours his delicious brew. Listening to jazzy Japanese hip-hop on the turntable and sipping sake, while Yukimachi shares his passion for, well, everything, is a special way to spend an afternoon.yasakaturu.co.jp/en

Kizakura Brewery Fushimi District, Kyoto

Kyoto’s Fushimi district is overflowing with sakagura, and is also home to the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Spend a morning wandering around the museum while learning about — and tasting — sake. Afterwards, why not move on to the Kizakura Kappa Country, a restaurant operated by the Kizakura Brewery, and try a sake sampler with your lunch. Both the food and the sake are renowned across the country for their excellence. fushimi.or.jp/sake_guide/tasting